Cambridge man jailed after shoplifting incident

A Cambridge man accused of trying to steal merchandise from a Southgate Parkway store remained behind bars today on a felony hold issued by city police officers.

Police identified the man as 46-year-old Douglas S. Britton.

Britton was also cited for driving while under non-compliance, failure to reinstate and 12-point suspensions after he tried to flee the Walmart plaza in his vehicle. He was stopped by officers at a nearby business after being spotted driving away from the store.

A male who reportedly accompanied Britton to the store is also facing a criminal charge. Officers charged Mark E. Cutlip Jr., 34, Cambridge, with criminal trespassing. He was reportedly with Britton when the two men fled the business and later refused to obey orders by store security to leave the property.

According to reports, officers were dispatched to Walmart at 3:55 p.m. Sunday after Britton and Cutlip fled from security personnel after being detained for Britton allegedly shoplifting merchandise.

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As security personnel were walking the suspects to an office at the store, both men allegedly fled through the front door and Britton ran into a nearby wooded area.

Cutlip allegedly remained in front of the store for several minutes and was later located by police walking in front of another store in the plaza. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Guernsey County Jail to be served with the criminal trespassing charge.

A store employee reportedly ordered Cutlip to leave the property after he fled out the front door but he refused to comply with the order.

As officers were conducting their investigation, they received information that Britton fled in a green vehicle.

An officer arriving at the plaza observed a vehicle matching the description given by a witness and a traffic stop was conducted in the Urgent Care parking lot.

Britton was taken into custody without incident and while an officer was searching him, a hat was found concealed inside his pants. Britton was reportedly stopped by store security for trying to steal a bottle of Advil.

Britton was transported to the county jail and served with his citations. Officers also incarcerated him on the felony hold as other merchandise believed to have been stolen from another Walmart was located inside his vehicle.

The merchandise was seized as evidence.

Officers were reportedly working with the Belmont County Walmart to determine if video surveillance was available for the alleged theft incident in that county.

The local incident also remained under investigation by Cambridge police.